Screening & Diagnostic Tools Can Measure and Observe Health

To properly develop and prescribe a treatment plan, clinicians can use screening and diagnostic tools to take a patient's temperature, measure blood pressure or look into the ear canal. Every good doctor wears a stethoscope around his neck to quickly listen to the heart and lungs before diagnosing a patient. Common screening and diagnostic tools include blood pressure monitors, scales, thermometers, stethoscopes and otoscopes. These useful medical tools help clinicians obtain a better understanding of medical issues and help patients observe that the right tests are being performed to help them feel better.

Quickly Screening Patients

The ability to quickly screen patients using various screening and diagnostic tools can eliminate patients' anxiety and boost their confidence that undergoing different tests will have them up and running in no time. Tools such as scales quickly take the patient's weight, while devices like glucose monitors provide readings in a couple of seconds with minimal discomfort. Medical devices like portable monofilaments are useful for diabetic foot screening and are able to detect changes in a patient's neurological status within seconds. Quickly screening patients keeps them calm and confident the process is flowing smoothly, and helps clinicians understand specific medical issues immediately, which can be the difference between life and death in the medical profession.

Diagnosing Specific Problems

Without screening and diagnostic tools, clinicians would not be able to properly diagnose specific illnesses and ailments. How would doctors notice a patient's 103 degree fever without the precise temperature provided by a thermometer? These tools provide insight into the exact problems affecting their patients' health. Whether an infection is present or a foreign object is lodged in the inner ear, an otoscope allows the clinician to look deep into the ear canal to view the patient's specific medical issue. When a patient is suffering from high blood pressure, a specialized monitor provides an accurate reading that can help the doctor identify the best way to start treating the ailment. Screening and diagnostic tools serve specific purposes to ensure each patient receives the appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Developing Individual Treatments

In order to develop an appropriate treatment plan for patients, clinicians use screening and diagnostic tools to aid in their observation of medical issues, illnesses and ailments. For example, goniometers can help the doctor observe the movement of joints, which is ideal for treating physical injuries related to the shoulder, hip or hamstring. To treat broken bones, clinicians use illuminators to view fractures or breaks, and patients wear X-ray aprons and jackets for increased protection from radiation. These tools help clinicians diagnose and develop treatment plans for each individual patient. Without screening and diagnostic tools, emergency rooms and healthcare facilities would be overwhelmed with chaos and flooded with patients convinced their minor ailments were life-ending diseases.